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I Went to Disney World

“Well,” my grandmother asked,  “are you excited?”

I had no idea what she meant by this statement.  Nothing particularly exciting had happened in my life recently.  It was just the usual routine of a high school sophomore.  I could not think of any other answer but,

“About what,” I asked, hoping for some small clue about what she meant.

“About Disney!  We’re going to Disney,” my grandmother responded, with notable excitement in her voice.

To say that my grandparents loved Disney World is an understatement.  Over the years, they had made several trips to the Florida theme parks.  At the time of our conversation, they probably had been at least a half dozen times.  I just figured this was my grandmother’s roundabout way of announcing their next trip.

“Oh…fun…” I said, still a bit confused.

“Well, aren’t you excited about it?”  Her voice was a mix of anticipation and slight impatience.

This cryptic back and forth could go on for a long time, so I responded the only way I could.

“Sure…  You guys love going to Disney,” I offered.  “You always have fun.”

The next words my grandmother spoke shocked me.

“Well, you’re going to have fun, too” she assured me, “We’re taking you and your brothers!”

Since the first of their many trips to Disney World, my grandparents had been trying to convince the rest of the family to go, as well.  Apparently realizing that none of us had any plans to do that, they decided to take their grandchildren.  First, they would take my cousins who lived near them in Tennessee.  Then, the next year, they would take my brothers and me.  That would be followed one year later by a trip for my two youngest cousins.

For a moment, I said nothing.  But, had my grandmother been able to see the look on my face upon hearing those words, she would know I was giddy.

Once the initial shock subsided, I again responded the only way I could.

“Seriously?”  It was short but appropriate, I thought.

The way my grandmother answered “Well … yes,” made me realize that she truly thought I already knew about the trip.  Then, she ended the conversation where it began,

“Are you excited?”

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